Rail brace



April 28, 1953 G. ARNOLD ET AL 2,636,687

RAIL BRACE Filed July 28, 1948 3 Sheets-SheeI l BY Ear/Ml E. Plumas G. ARNOLD ET AL April 28, 1953 RAIL BRACE l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1948 INVENTORS me ,4k/vaca BY qAwy A50/01.72 Eaw//v E. /PHoAos I M l n Afrox/Vey April 28, 1953 G. ARNOLD ETAL 2,636,687

RAIL BRACE Filed July 28, 194s s sheetslsheet s bw/N E. @do as mmv s Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAIL BRACE George Arnold, Shaker Heights, Harry A. Schultz, Garfield Heights, and Edwin E. Rhoads, Solon, Ohio, assignors to Cleveland Frog & Grossing C0., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 2s, 194s, serial No. 41,084

(Cl. 23S-292) 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a rail brace such as is applied to a railroad rail to resist any tendency of the rail to overturn outwardly from the center of the track and to clamp it to the tie plate or base plate (or switch plate) onwhich itv rests, thus holding the rail against movements relative to the plate, which latter in turn is secured to a supporting tie as is well understood in the art.

Rail braces of the type contemplated by this invention are most frequently applied against the stock rails alongside split switch points, but theiry use is not necessarily limited to such application.

Further, braces of this type are frequently made adjustable, to compensate for variations in the dimensions of the rail, the seat for the rail and brace, in the brace itself, and also to aiiord a means of re-tightening the assembly after wear takes pla-ce.

Rail braces employed for this purpose generally have a portion which engages one of the sloping base iianges of the rail and the vertical web of the rail Where it merges with the base flanges and a portion which engages the web beneath the rail head. Heretofore the rail braces have been secured to the base plates in rail clampinng and bracing position by ver-tical hold-down or clamping bolts extending through the base plates and braces. Diiiiculty has been experienced with the rail braces in use in that the braces tend, when in track, to work downwardly of the sloping base flange of the rails and away from the web or the rails until the braces do not eiiectively clamp the rails to the base plates or brace thev rails against tilting or moving away from tlieshoulder of the baseplates.

Various arrangements have been employed to overcome this tendency of the rail braces lto work away from the rails as, for instance, it has been usual to employ wedge members inserted between the rail braces and fixed abutments or back stops secured to the base plates, the function of the Wedges vbeing to force the braces 'toward the rails.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rail brace which is so constructed and is so secured to the base plate that when installed it tends at all times and under track conditions to worl: toward the rail rather than away from the rail, thus insuring the maintenance of the necessary clamping and bracing relationship between the brace and the rail.

Another object is to provide a rail brace which is so constructed and is so secured to the base plate in rail engaging position that it will main.- Itain such position automatically withoutthenecessity` of employing wedgesv or similar arrangements for the purpose of taking up looseness 'between the brace and the rail. i

A further object is to provide a rail brace which is so constructed and is so secured to the base plate as to maintain itself under operating conditions in tight clamping and bracing relationship with the rail.

A further object is tc provide a. rail brace of improved efficiencyas compared to the braces now in use and which brace when installed and in use maintains at all times its proper tight engagement with the ra-iland exerts on the rail the proper and desired lateral and downward bracing and clamping forces without tendency of tipping the rail.

Further and additional objects arid advantages will becomeV apparent hereinafter during the detailed description of several forms of rail braces embodying the inventive conceptn The invention contemplates constructing a rail brace and securing the same inV rail clamping and bracing position in a manner such that the force exerted by the hold-down bolts of the brace produces, in addition to a vertical or holddown clamping force, a component force tending to move the brace toward the rail and causing that portion of the" brace which engages with one of the sloping base flanges ofthe rail to move upwardlly of said base flange, as'disting'uished-frm the prior rail `brace constructions wherein there is a tendency for therailf braces to move downwardly of the sloping base ange of the rails and work loose from proper and effective rail clamping and bracing position.

Several different forms of rail braces embody'- ing the inventive concept are illustrated in the accompanying drawingswherein,

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view through a rail mounted on a base plate and clamped and braced thereagainst by a form of rail brace embodying the invention, said base plate and rail brace being shown in elevation.

Fig. `2 is a transverse horizontal sectional view of the rail shown in Fig. l, with the rail brace and base plateshown in plan, one of the cap nuts being removed and its hold-down 'bolt shown in section.

Fig. e is a side elevational vielwwof the rail, rail brace and base plate` shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with thebase plate shown aspositioned on a rail'- way tie.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View 3 through a railway rail and a modified form of rail brace embodying the invention, with the base plate shown partially in elevation and partially in section.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through .the rail of Fig. 4 and shows the rail brace and base plate of Fig. 4 in plan, with one of the cap nuts and its associated spring washer and plate washer removed from one of the hold-down bolts and the latter shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a third form of rail brace construction embodying the invention.

Fig. 7 is a View of the rail brace shown in Fig. 6 and is partially in plan and partially in horizontal section.

Fig. 8 is a detached detail plan view of the wedge employed with the brace of Figs. 6 and 7, and

.fixed abutment or back-stop employed with said wedge of Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive.

- The form of rail brace illustrated in Figs. l to 3 inclusive and embodying the invention will first be described. The rail brace is employed with a railway rail indicated generally at IIB and comprising the usual base flanges Il provided on their upper sides with downwardly sloping surfaces I2. A vertically extending web I3 interconnects the rail base with the rail head lll. The outer surfaces of the web I3 merge on a radius into -the slopingsurfaces I2 of the base flanges and into the underside of the rail head I4 as is Well lunderstood in the art. The rail is supported on a base plate I5 which in turn is secured to a tie I6 all as is fully known in the art. The base plate I5 on its upper side is provided With a recess in which the base of the .rail is located, with the left hand side of the rail base engaging the base plate at the left hand end of the recess as viewed in the drawings. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive a fixed abutment member or back-stop Il is secured in the recess of the base plate at the right hand end of said recess by suitable securing means such as the rivets I8 as is common practice in the art.

- The rail brace of Figs. l to 3 inclusive is for the purpose of clamping and bracing the rail in proper position to the base plate with the left hand (as viewed in the drawing) base flange of the railrmly in engagement with the left hand end of the recess in the base plate and to prevent relative movements of the rail with respect to the base plate. This is the usual function of a rail brace as already explained.v

The rail brace comprises a brace block, indicated generally by the letter B, and this block may be formed as a casting, forging or in any suitable manner as will be well understood. The brace block B comprises a vertically extending portion I9 which has at its upper end a rail engaging portion 2li that is adapted when the brace is applied to the rail to engage the side of the web I3 of the rail below but adjacent to the underside of the rail head I4, it being noted that clearance indicated at C is provided between the upper surface of the portion and the under surface of the rail head for the purpose that the portion 2l] will exert force against the web I3 of the rail in substantially a horizontal direction and will not exert upward force on the rail head which would tend to tip the rail. The

.vertical portion .I9 and the rail engaging portion Fig. 9 is a detached detail plan view of vthe 2U of the block B extend longitudinally of the rail and brace.

The block B is provided with a substantially horizontal portion 2l integrally connected to the lower end of the vertical portion I9. This horizontal portion 2l adjacent to the vertical p0rtion I9 is provided on its underside with an inclined surface 22 'that engages the downwardly sloping surface I2 of the base ange II of the rail and has the same or substantially the same angle of inclination as the surface l2. rhe inclined surface 22 merges into a curved surface at the lower end of the vertical portion I9 and it will be noted that clearance C is provided between such curved surface and the rail and also between the web I3 of the rail and the vertical ,portion IS of the block below the rail engaging portion 2t. In other words, the block B engages the rail only at the portion 2) and at the contacting surfaces between the inclined surface 22 of the block and the sloping surface I2 of 'the base ange of the rail.

The underside of the horizontal portion 2l of the block has a horizontal surface 23 extending from the inclined surface 22 to a downwardly extending rib portion 2d, the right hand end of which rib portion, as viewed in the drawings, is inclined transversely of the block B and the base plate l5. The horizontal portion 2l of the block B beyond the rib 24 is provided with an overhanging lip 25 which lip on its underside is provided with a series of serrations or teeth 2t transversely disposed with respect to the lip and extending substantially throughout the longitudinal length thereof for a purpose later tobe pointed out. The vertical portion I 9 and the horizontal portion 2l, including the lip 25, are connected by integral side walls 2l and 28, the upper surfaces of which are formed with a concave curvature extending from the portion Z to the lip 25.

The horizontal portion 2| of the block intermediate the side walls 2l and 28 is provided with a pair of spaced openings 29 which are elongated in a direction toward the vertical portion I9. The openings 29 are for the purpose of having the hold-down bolts extend therethrough when the rail brace is clamped in operative position with respect to the rail and the base plate.

rIhe hold-down bolts are indicated at 3i) and comprise, in this instance, heads 3| located at the underside of the base plate I5 and countersunk in complementary portions of openings through said base plate. The bolts 30 are illustrated as having short vertically extending shank portions 32 connected to the heads 3| and Vpassing upwardly of the openings in the base plate I5 and connected, in turn, to angularly disposed or inclined shank portions 33 which extend upwardly through the openings 29 in the horizontal portion 2i of the block B a substantial distance above the upper Vsurface of said horizontal portion 2|. The upper ends of the angularly or inclined shank portions 33 of the bolts are threaded as indicated at 34.

A plate washer W is provided with spaced boss portions having openings therethrough to pass over the bolts Bil. The underside of the plate washer W is provided with a horizontal surface 35 contacting the horizontal upper surface of the portion 2l of the block B. The plate washer W on its underside and beneath the boss portions is provided with downwardly extending lugs 36 which extend into the openings 29 in the block. The boss portions of the washer W on their up- 'on the brace;

"down bolts tu provided with the ftiehtly against the l :pertendsare formed with inclined surfaces 31 that are parallel to or substantially parallel to the sloping surface l2 of the base nance ll of fthe rail and' to the inclined surface t?? ci the block: B` for a purpose later to be explained.

In securing the block B in operative position heavy spring washers it are positioned on the bolts 36` and in engagement with the inclined 'surfaces 3l of the bosses of the washer W. Cap nuts 3Q are then screwed down upon the bolts Slitightly against the spring washers Sit. Coil 'or other forms of spring washers may be used 'on the bolts 3B for the same purpose.

'Ihe purpose of utilizing hold-down bolts of "the character shown and described and oi providfing the inclined surfaces 3'! on the washer bosses "is to produce a hold-down force or pressure on the block B that provides a force component acting to urge the bloei-r. .B toward the rail web I3 and to cause the surface 22 on the underside 'of the block to ride upwardly on the downwardly sloping surface it? of the rail base flange li.

As previously pointed out, di'liculty has been experienced in the use of rail braces in that the thereof was determined to reside in the use of holddown bolts `and securing means for the brace which exert only a verti hold-down force Consequently severe vibrations to which the brace is subjected when in track would cause the brace to work down on the slop-- ing surface l2 of the base nance of the rail until the brace was not in tight holdin@ bracing engaeernentl with the The present invention `has eliminated the cause of this problem by providing hold-down the brace of such character to exert component force acting to urge the brace at all times toward the lrail and upwardly or the downwardly sloping 'surface l2 of the base fiance ii of the rail. 1n

the embodiment of the invention currently described this is accomplished by havinar the holdan'rularly disposed or inclined Shanks 33t while the bosses of the washer W have the inclined surfaces fil which are substantially parallel to the downwardly slop- .ing surface l2 of the rail flange it and to the inclined surface t of the bloeit l. Therefore, when the cap nuts 35i are screwed down yon the bolts til the heavy spring washers block B oi the rail when installed will always be held in properv engagement with the rail and will exert thereon the requisite :forces C holding the base or the rail firmly against the base plate ill with the left end o? the base olate base hand end of t as viewed in the dra wines. In addition, the tion 2li of the block will. always be held against the web it or the rail and due to Y htliT the clearance C there will be no tendency for the blocir to produce tilting or rcclrinfr movement of the rail since the portion 2e will exert only -ahorizontal pressure; against the rail web which Lil) 'its upper surface with a recess d3.

lrail braces to work away from the rails as previously explained. Although the present inven- 'tion does away with the absolute necessity of utilizing wedges with the rail braces the form 01 rail brace shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive includes simply as an additional insurance against the brace loosening with respect to the rail, an elongated wedge member Ml of known construction and substantially like the wedge member shown in Arnold Patent 2,223,865, issued December 3, 1940.

The wedge member is inserted between the baclrstop ll and the rib 2t of the bloei: B and beneath the lip Esi. The edge of` the wedge member adjacent to the baclrstop l'l and which engages with said baclrstop is straight, while its opposite edge which engages with the inclined ed're oi rib 2li is inclined to cooperate with rib edge, it being understood that when the wedce is driveninto position the cooperating inclined edges referred to act to urge the rail brace toward the rail. The upper surface of the weflee it is provided with serrations or teeth lil which interengagingly cooperate with the serrations on the underside of the lip 25 to hold the wedge in position as will be well understood in the art.

In the structural form of rail brace embodying the invention and illustrated in Fics. 4f and 5 it will be noted that no wedde member or back- 'stop is employed, since they rail brace will always remain in proper tight relationship with the rail when once installed because of the torce eX- erted by the hold-down means which constantly act to urac the rail brace toward the rail and upwardly of the downwardly sloping base flange of the rail.

In this forrn of the construction embodying the invention, the base plate t?, is provided on The base flanges dfi of the railare located in the recess 43 with 'the left hand base flange encaginrr the left 4hand end of the recess, as viewed in the draw- The base dit of the rail are provided as usual with the downwardly sloping surfaces d5 which merge into the rail `web lli while i the latter merges into the rail head Il? as will be well understood.

' The rail brace of this :orrn comprises the block,

indicated generally at B', and which, comprises the vertical portion #la having at its upper end the rail web enaaainc, portion i9 while its lower 'end merces into a base flange enraginfr portion that itsliower side engaging the surface da of the richt hand base flange of the rail, as

viewed the drawing. As in the previously described forin there is a clearance C between the underside or the rail head t? and the portion 'lili ci the bloclr. E' and a cle rance C between 7 horizontal foot portion 52 which bears upon the base plate 42 to the right of the recess 43 as viewed in the drawings.

The inclined portion is provided with a pair of openings 53 spaced longitudinally of the rail and block and elongated in direction toward the web of the rail and toward the vertical portion 48. A pair of bolts extend through the openings 53 and each bolt has a head 54 countersunk in the lower end of an opening 55 through the base plate 42 adjacent to the right hand end of the recess 43 and to the right of the right hand base ange 44 of the rail, as viewed in the drawings. The bolts are provided with shanks 56 angular relative to the heads 54 so as to extend through the openings 55 and 53 perpendicularly to, or substantially perpendicularly to, the upper surface of the block portion 5|. The upper ends of the bolts are externally threaded and project well above the portion 5|.

A plate washer' 58 is provided with spaced openings through which the shanks 56 of the bolts extend and said washer contacts the upper surface of the inclined portion 5|. Heavy spring washers 59 surround the bolt shanks 56 and engage the plate washer 58, while cap nuts 60 screwed upon the threaded ends of the bolt Shanks hold the brace in clamping and bracing assembled relationship relative to the rail. The bolts, the washer 58, spring washers 59 and cap nuts 60 are located between the side walls 6| and 62 of' the block and which walls are integral with the previously described portions 48, 49, 50, 5| and 52 of the block.

As in the previously described form of construction, when the rail brace is mounted in track and the cap nuts 60 are screwed down on the hold-down bolts, the hold-down force is exerted on the block B through the spring washers 59 and plate washer 58 and the inclined portion 5| of the block and acts not only to force the block firmly against the base plate 42 and the rail base iiange 44 but also produces a component constantly tending to urge the portion 50 upwardly on the downwardly sloping surface 45 of rail base flange. Consequently, the rail brace when once installed is maintained in proper and effective clamping and bracing relationship to the rail and the tendency of the brace to work downwardly of the sloping surface 45 of the base flange is overcome. It will be noted that no wedge is used in this form of construction since the brace automatically and constantly is urged toward the rail by the action of the inclined bolt Shanks 56, the inclined portion 5|, the plate washer 58, spring washers 59 and cap nuts 60.

The rail brace embodying the invention and Aillustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive differs from the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, mainly in the form of wedge member employed and, therefore, the same reference characters are employed in Figs. 6 and 7 as are used to designate the corresponding elements of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

VIn Figs. 6 and '7 the horizontal portion 2| of the rail brace block does not have on its underside the rib 24 but extends in planular form to the lip 25. The lip 25 in this modified form also is serrated on its underside and overlies and cooperates with the serrated upper surface 63 of a wedge member 64. The wedge member 64 is provided with a lateral extension 65 which underlies the horizontal portion 2| of the block B and has its free longitudinal edge in engagement with the free end of the base flange of the rail. The extension 65 of the Wedge 64 is provided with notches 66 through which the holddown bolts extend. The right hand longitudinal edge of the wedge 64 is provided with inclined Wedging surfaces 61 and 68 separated by a recess 69 and which wedging surfaces cooperate with wedging surfaces 10 and 1| formed on the adjacent longitudinal edge of a backstop 'I2 that is secured to the base plate I5 in the right hand end of the recess in the base plate.

It will be understood that when the rail brace of Figs. 6 and '7 is applied to the rail and the wedge B4 is in its operative position, the latter functions to hold the base flange of the rail tightly against the left hand end of the recess in the base plate I5. Likewise, it will be seen that when the rail brace is clamped and bolted down the serrations of the lip 25 and of the wedge interlock to prevent the wedge from working loose or backing out.

It will be understood that the action of the hold-down means of the rail brace of Figs. 6 and 7 is identical with the action of the hold-down means for the rail brace of Figs. l to 3 and that a force component is created which functions to maintain the brace in proper and effective relationship to the rail and to cause the surface 22 of the brace to move upwardly 0f the downwardly sloping surface i2 of the rail brace ange instead of downwardly thereof.

Each and all of the embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein include a rail brace which is so constructed and secured in clamping position to the rail, that the force eX- erted by the hold-down bolts of the bra-ce produces, in addition to a vertical or hold-down force, a force tending to move the brace toward the rail and causing that portion of the brace which engages with one of the sloping base flanges of the rail to move upwardly of said base ange, as distinguished from the prior rail brace constructions wherein there is a tendency for the rail braces to move downwardly of the sloping base flange of the rails and work loose from proper and effective rail clamping and bracing position.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations. Thus, it will be apparent that the inclinations of the axes of the hold-down bolts may be varied from those shown in the drawings and other changes may be made in the form and proportions of the parts illustrated and described Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A rail brace and supporting means comprising a base plate adapted to support the base flanges of a rail with one of said flanges engaging fixed abutment means on said plate, a block on said plate and having integral parts, oneof which is adapted to lie adjacent to and extend vertically of the rail web and the other of which overlies said plate and is adapted to extend laterally from the rail web, said parts having portions adapted to engage the rail web adjacent to and below the rail head and the downwardly sloping upper surface of the other base fiange of the rail, said other part which overlies the base plate being provided with openings elongated in a direction that is transverse to the rail web and with an uppel` surface that is substantially horizontal, hold-down bolts connected to said base plate and having shank portions inclined to the vertical in a direction away from said one part of said block and extending through the openings in said other part of said block, the diametral thickness of said hold-down bolts being substantially less than the elongated length of said openings to provide for relative movement between said block and said bolts toward the web of said rail, a Washer overlying said openings in said other part of said block and provided with a substantially horizontal under surface engaging the substantially horizontal upper surface of said other part of the block and with an upper surface inclined downwardly and substantially parallel to the downwardly sloping upper surface of said other base ange of the rail, said washer being provided with openings through which said bolts extend, and nuts on said bolts, which when screwed down act on said inclined upper surface of said washer to produce hold-down forces on said block including a component urging said block toward said rail and upwardly on the downwardly sloping upper surface of said other base flange of the rail and relative to said hold-down bolts.

2. A rail brace and supporting means as defined in claim 1 and wherein said washer` is provided on its underside with lug portions extending into said elongated openings in said other part of said block at the end of said openings which is adjacent to the rail.

GEORGE ARNOLD. HARRY A. SCHULTZ. EDWIN E. Rl-IOADS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Putnam Sept. 11, 1883 Quinn Aug. 21, 1888 Walker Jan. 1, 1907 Smathers Jan. 10, 1911 Steel May 21, 1912 Young Sept 3, 1912 Saul Apr. 8, 1913 Arnold Dec. 3, 1940 Nordberg Aug. 15, 1944 Arnold et al June 10, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France June 6, 1933 France Dec. 7, 1938 Germany Dec. 13, 1892 Great Britain Apr. 22, 1890 

